System to prevent drunken driving

ABSTRACT

A self-policing system for preventing oneself from drunk driving features a key for inserting into an ignition switch of an automobile and a base. A base anterior end features a keyhole for receiving the key. A barbed first key camp is operatively connected to a first solenoid located in a base anterior cavity and is biased via a first spring. A barbed second key clamp is operatively connected to a second solenoid boated in the base anterior cavity and is biased via a second spring. A base posterior end features a breathing aperture located on a tip. A base posterior cavity features an alcohol sensor and a power supply each operatively connected to a microprocessor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices used to prohibit drunkendriving, or more specifically, blood alcohol concentration detectingdevices used to prohibit drunken driving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continuesto be a major issue in society even as penalties have continued tostiffen. Devices are sometimes installed on a car of a habitual offenderas required by law to prevent them from driving when under the influenceof alcohol or drugs. The present invention features a self-policingsystem for preventing oneself from drunk driving.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are includedwithin the scope of the present invention provided that the featuresincluded in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as willbe apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge ofone of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects ofthe present invention are apparent in the following detailed descriptionand claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a self-policing system for preventingoneself from drunk driving. In some embodiments, the system comprises akey for inserting into an ignition switch of an automobile foroperation.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a base. In some embodiments, abase anterior end comprises a keyhole for receiving the key. In someembodiments, a barbed first key clamp operatively connected to a firstsolenoid is located in a base anterior cavity and biased via a firstspring. In some embodiments, a barbed second key clamp operativelyconnected to a second solenoid is located in the base anterior cavityand biased via a second spring.

In some embodiments, a base posterior end comprises a breathing aperturelocated on a tip thereon. In some embodiments, a base posterior cavitycomprises an alcohol sensor and a power supply each operative connectedto a microprocessor located therein.

In some embodiments, a key is located in the anterior cavity via thekeyhole and secured via the first spring biased barbed first key clampinterfacing with a key first side keycut and the second spring biasedbarbed second key clamp interfacing with a key second side keycut. Insome embodiments, to release the key from the base anterior cavity, auser breathes into the breathing aperture. The alcohol sensor detects ablood alcohol content by volume in a breath of the user. If the bloodalcohol content is below a blood alcohol content limit, the key isreleased via movement of the first solenoid and the second solenoid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the key and the base of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the base of the present inventionfeaturing the base posterior end.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the present invention in a securedposition.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of the present invention in a releasedposition featuring the first key clamp, the second key clamp, thealcohol sensor, the power supply and the microprocessor schematicallyconnected.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular elementreferred to herein:

-   -   100 Drunken driving prevention system    -   110 Key    -   111 Key first side keycut    -   112 Key second side Keycut    -   120 Base    -   121 Base anterior end    -   122 Base posterior end    -   123 Base anterior cavity    -   124 Base posterior cavity    -   130 Keyhole    -   140 First key clamp    -   145 First solenoid    -   146 First spring    -   150 Second key clamp    -   155 Second solenoid    -   156 Second spring    -   160 Breathing aperture    -   170 Alcohol sensor    -   160 Power supply    -   190 Microprocessor    -   200 Barb    -   201 Barb anterior side    -   202 Barb posterior side

Referring now to FIG. 1-6, the present invention features aself-policing drunken driving prevention system (100). In someembodiments, the system (100) comprises a key (110) for inserting intoan ignition switch of an automobile for operation.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a base (120) having aplanar base anterior end (121), a conical base posterior end (122), abase anterior cavity (123) located within close to the base anterior end(121), and a base posterior cavity (124) located within close to thebase posterior end (122).

In some embodiments, the base anterior end (121) comprises a keyhole(130) located thereon for receiving the key (110). In some embodiments,the keyhole (130) is fluidly connected to the base anterior cavity (123)in some embodiments, a barbed first key clamp (140) operativelyconnected to a first solenoid (145) is located in the base anteriorcavity (123) and outwardly biased via a first spring (146). In someembodiments, a barbed second key clamp (150) operatively connected to asecond solenoid (155) is located in the base anterior cavity (123) andoutwardly biased via a second spring (156). In some embodiments, thefirst key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) are designed to fitmany keys (110). In some embodiments, the first key clamp (140) and thesecond key clamp (150) are adapted to fit a single key (110).

In some embodiments, the base posterior end (122) comprises a breathingaperture (160) located on a tip thereon. In some embodiments, thebreathing aperture (160) is fluidly connected to the base posteriorcavity (124). In some embodiments, the base posterior cavity (124)comprises an alcohol sensor (170) and a power supply (180) eachoperatively connected to a microprocessor (190) located therein, in someembodiments, the microprocessor (190) is operatively connected to thefirst solenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) in some embodiments,the microprocessor (190) and the power supply (180) are physicallyseparated from the alcohol sensor (170) via a barrier.

In some embodiments, a key (110) is inserted into the base anteriorcavity (123) via the keyhole (130). In some embodiments, the key (110)is secured via the first spring (146) biased barbed first key clamp(140) interfacing with a key first side keycut (111) and a second spring(156) biased barbed second key clamp (150) interfacing with a key secondside keycut (112). In some embodiments, in a secured position the key(110) is held in the base anterior cavity (123), with the first keyclamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) clamping the key. In someembodiments, the key (110) is inserted through the keyhole (130) andclicks past the barbs (200) on the first key clamp (140) and the secondkey clamp (150) until the key (110) is in position.

In some embodiments, to release the key (110) from the base anteriorcavity (123) a user breathes into the breathing aperture (160) locatedin the base posterior cavity (124). In some embodiments, the alcoholsensor (170) detects a blood alcohol content by volume in a breath ofthe user. In some embodiments, if the blood alcohol content is below ablood alcohol content limit, the key (110) is released via retraction ofthe first solenoid (145) attached to the first key clamp (140) and thesecond solenoid (155) attached to the second key clamp (150) via themicroprocessor (190)

In some embodiments, the blood alcohol content limit is 0.05 by volumeor 0.05%. In some embodiments, the blood alcohol content limit is 0.08by volume or 0.08%.

In some embodiments, the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp(150) comprise barbs (200). In some embodiments, each barb (200)comprises a sloped barb anterior side (201) and a perpendicular barbposterior side (202) for slidably allowing entrance of the key (110) andfor limiting exit of the key (110) unless the blood alcohol content isbelow the blood alcohol content limit.

In some embodiments, the key (110) is disposed in the base anteriorcavity (123) via the keynote (130). In some embodiments, the key (110)is slid into position and secured via the first spring (146) biasedbarbed first key clamp (140) interfacing with a key first side keycut(111) and the second spring (156) biased barbed second key clamp (150)interfacing with a key second side keycut (112). In some embodiments, ina secured position the key (110) is held in the base anterior cavity(123), via the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150)clamping the key.

In some embodiments, to release the key (110) from the base anteriorcavity (123) a user breathes into the breathing aperture (160) disposedin the base posterior cavity (124). In some embodiments, the alcoholsensor (170) detects a blood alcohol content by volume in a breath ofthe user, in some embodiments, the microprocessor (ISO) analyzes theblood alcohol content with respect to a blood alcohol limit. In someembodiments, if the blood alcohol content is below the blood alcoholcontent limit, the microprocessor (190) sends a signal to the firstsolenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) to retract for a period oftime. In some embodiments, the period of time is one second. In someembodiments, the period of time is three seconds. In some embodiments,the period of time is five seconds or more

In some embodiments, upon retraction of the first solenoid (145), thefirst key clamp (140) slides away from the key first side keycut (111)of the key (110). In some embodiments, upon retraction of the secondsolenoid (155), the second key clamp (150) slides away from the keysecond side keycut (112). In some embodiments, the key (110) is able tobe pulled from the keynote (130). In some embodiments, after a period oftime, the first solenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) releasefrom a retracted position.

As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of thereferenced number.

The disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in theirentirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. D 540,209; U.S. Patent Pub.No 2008/0196963; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0230175; U.S. Patent Pub. No.2005/0099310; U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,890; U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,335, U.S.Pat. No. 6,075,444; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,415.

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those describedherein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoingdescription. Such modifications are also intended to fall within thescope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the presentapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed thescope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention isonly to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited inthe claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent officeonly, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figurespresented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including theangles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures arerepresentative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions ofthe figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventionsdescribed herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments thatcould be described as “consisting of”, and as such the writtendescription requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of thepresent invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.

The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease ofexamination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are notintended m any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particularfeatures having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A self-policing drunken driving preventionsystem, wherein the system comprises: (a) a key for inserting into anignition switch of an automobile for operation; and (b) a base having aplanar base anterior end, a conical base posterior end, a base anteriorcavity disposed within proximal to the base anterior end, and a baseposterior cavity disposed within proximal to the base posterior end,wherein the base anterior end comprises a keyhole disposed thereon forreceiving the key, wherein the keyhole is fluidly connected to the baseanterior cavity, wherein a barbed first key clamp operatively connectedto a first solenoid is disposed in the base anterior cavity andoutwardly biased via a first spring, wherein a barbed second key clampoperatively connected to a second solenoid is disposed in the baseanterior cavity and outwardly biased via a second spring, wherein thebase posterior end comprises a breathing aperture disposed on a tipthereon, wherein the breathing aperture is fluidly connected to the baseposterior cavity, wherein the base posterior cavity comprises an alcoholsensor and a power supply each operatively connected to a microprocessordisposed therein, wherein the microprocessor is operatively connected tothe first solenoid and the second solenoid, wherein the key is disposedin the base anterior cavity via the keyhole, wherein the key is slidinto position and secured via the first spring biased barbed first keyclamp interfacing with a key first side keycut and the second springbiased barbed second key clamp interfacing with a key second sidekeycut, wherein in a secured position the key is held in the baseanterior cavity, via the first key clamp and the second key clampclamping the key, wherein to release the key from the base anteriorcavity a user breathes into the breathing aperture disposed in the baseposterior cavity, wherein the alcohol sensor detects a blood alcoholcontent by volume in a breath of the user, wherein the microprocessoranalyzes the blood alcohol content with respect to a blood alcohollimit, wherein if the blood alcohol content is below the blood alcoholcontent limit, the microprocessor sends a signal to the first solenoidand the second solenoid to retract for a period of time, wherein uponretraction of the first solenoid, the first key clamp slides away fromthe key first side keycut of the key, wherein upon retraction of thesecond solenoid, the second key clamp slides away from the key secondside keycut, wherein the key is able to be pulled from the keyhole,wherein after a period of time, the first solenoid and the secondsolenoid release from a retracted position.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the blood alcohol content limit is 0.05 by volume.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein the first key clamp and the second key clampcomprise barbs, wherein each barb comprises a sloped barb anterior side,and a perpendicular barb posterior side for slidably allowing anentrance of the key and for limiting an exit of the key unless the bloodalcohol content is below the blood alcohol content limit.